Day 2: Motivation

Understand our motivations for working out and reorient ourselves to be primarily motivated by a desire to honor God through our bodies.

Why do you workout? 

For most people, the answer to that question involves some version of the following:

  • “I want to lose weight.” 

  • “I want to look and feel better.”

  • “I want to be a better athlete.”

  • “I just need ‘me time’ as an escape.”

Those answers aren’t all bad, but for Christians, there’s a concerning theme if they’re your driving motivation: they are all rooted in self. Honestly, it’s an easy trap to fall into. Most of the fitness and exercise world focuses on glorifying our work ethic and image (post-workout selfie anyone?). Whether it’s the desire to once again fit into your favorite jeans, feel more confident, or win a championship, we are surrounded by narratives that your next workout is all about YOU. This is the “pattern of this world” Paul is talking about in Romans 12:2. Do you recognize it?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2

Thankfully, God gives us a healthier, culture-defying alternative in Romans 12:1. The Message translation captures it beautifully:

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life - and place it before God as an offering. 

All routines from our daily life should be viewed as offerings to God, so why not our fitness?  And not just the bookends of your workout; every pull, press, stride, and strain is a gift to Him. The motivation of being a living sacrifice causes us to keep going despite what the world says. 

Here’s the best news: doing something for a perfect, universe-creating God is far more motivating than fitting into a pair of jeans or getting a six pack! When we are fueled by the desire to live, breathe, and move for our God, we get meaningful results that surpass anything the world has to offer. That’s better motivation than any pre-game speech I’ve ever heard. So keep taking this journey, inviting Him in, and focusing on using your workout to honor and glorify your Savior, not yourself.

Application

Get some reps! Grow in practicing a proper motivation when things are hard. Try the 30-minute FaithFit workout titled "Motivation" found at the top of this devotional.

Post-Workout Reflection

  1. What are my motivations for working out?

  2. How can I focus on staying motivated to glorify God?

  3. Are there other areas of my life in which I need to re-evaluate my motivations?